Original image by Lamar Gore
I’m Tom Barnes; you might know me from TGIF with Tom. And now, I’m bringing you Tuesday Trek! Each Tuesday, I’ll give you some insight about a refuge destination you might enjoy. Planning a winter vacation? Spring break? I might know the perfect spot for your upcoming travels!
Every winter, my friends and I hole up in Maine to get away from it all for a weekend. And despite Stephen King’s depiction of Maine as spooky, I’ve only found the rough and rustic landscape inspiring. Straddling the border between Maine and New Hampshire, and a stone’s throw from the Canadian border, Umbagog National Wildlife Refuge is a sprawling 25,650 acres of untouched wild lands.
Rated by the Boston Globe as one of the best kayaking spots in New England, Umbagog has a diverse mix of landscapes, from the lake and wetlands to boreal and deciduous forests. The floating bog in Harper’s Meadow is a designated National Natural Landmark. This designation recognizes the floating bog and wetlands as a significant natural area, one of a very special group of places illustrating the diversity of the country’s natural history.
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Umbagog Lake State Park offers camping at 33 sites on the refuge. They are only accessible by boat, so it is truly “off-the-grid.” Make sure to give them a call to reserve a spot before you arrive. Beyond recreational activities, one can spot wildlife like bald eagles, beavers and moose at Umbagog, making it a fantastic place to experience the true meaning of the outdoors.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Northeast Region 